Briefly outline Plato's definition of justice and morality and compare it to Thrasymachus and conventional ideas of this concept.
Briefly outline Plato's definition of justice and morality and compare it to Thrasymachus and conventional ideas of this concept. Plato's definition of justice in society is when everyone is doing their own tasks, mind own business to witch they are naturally suited to, when injustice is person's trying to do others job. He is explaining how exactly society is structured and how people could now what their best place and job in society is in his "magnificent myth". Basic idea is that people born with bronze, silver or gold in their soul and each of them defines wether this person is a producer, auxiliary or ruler. Therefore doing your own job right and being in the right class of the society is a justice for Plato. Similar definition for justice and morality is for individuals. Plato assume that our soul has 3 parts (reason, spirit and desire) in witch reason is in control of two others. All 3 parts should work together without interfering with each other and if they all do their own "job" well person will be just, moral and with balanced soul. So, if the reason should be in control it is not justice if one of the other parts of soul tries to do reason's job and starts controlling person's life. For Plato justice obviously is a good thing, when in Trasymachus theory justice is for the naive people who are controlled by the stronger,
What are the strengths of Kants moral theory?
Part A - What are the strengths of Kant’s moral theory? (25) Kant’s theory is an absolute based on a priori which means a fixed set of beliefs known without the need for human experience. This was compacted into three categorical imperatives. As he was alive during an age of enlightenment religion was being questioned and therefore Kant’s moral theory was more accepted. A strength of Kant’s theory is that it is an absolute set of morals. The theory is a priori because he believed humans can use reason in order to differentiate between right and wrong. Kant constructed an equation in which he believed it defined a moral action. This was “duty + goodwill = moral action. This can be viewed as a strength in Kant’s theory because it means moral actions can’t be subjective; they are either right or wrong because “it is incoherent to believe justice can mean one thing in a country and something different in another”. Furthermore he stated there were two realms; the phenomenal and noumenal. These separate the rational and irrational thinkers. Angels occupy the noumenal realm because they are unchanging with no emotional entanglements to prevent them performing their duties. For example if a building were burning down a human may priories the lives of friends and family over the lives of the others due to emotional attachment even though Kant would say their duty
To what extent is utilitarianism a useful method of making decisions about abortion?
To what extent is utilitarianism a useful method of making decisions about abortion? Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that, as suggested, looks at the consequences of the satiation and what the outcome is most likely to be. Therefore, this theory does not uphold the idea that no matter what the situation all life is sacred; it focuses on maximizing happiness for the individual. Some may argue that utilitarianism is useful because the woman is given the choice. This promotes women’s rights as, ultimately, the woman is who will carry the child and primarily care for the child, if not fully care for the child, in the first years of its life. After childbirth, which for some women is an incredibly daunting prospect, many omen suffer from depression and bodily complications. Therefore, some would argue that utilitarianism is a good approach because the woman can make the conscious and rational decisions to either undergo pregnancy or not. Some women may also feel that they are not prepared to be a mother and that it is not fair for them to bring a child into an unhealthy environment where she is struggling. This then means that the theory can be used to prevent an unprepared mother form being forced to have a child, therefore, creating happiness. However, some would disagree with utilitarianism because it allows for a quick fix solution to short term happiness.
Abortion and Personhood. Explain how the concept of personhood applies to abortion.
Ben O’Sullivan Explain how the concept of personhood implies to abortion: Personhood can be defined as the quality or condition of being an individual person. Personhood is a topic that debated intensely in philosophy and law, and is closely related to legal concepts of citizenship, liberty and equality. According to law, only a natural person or legal personality has rights, protections, privileges, responsibilities, and legal liability. As well as this, the controversial topic of abortion is considered closely linked with personhood. Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus due to viability. An abortion can happen without an external cause, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be carried out with intention. The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy. When discussing this argument, it is crucial that when we think about abortion, we need to know what we mean when we discuss 'human life.' A human life may be seen as a member of the biological human species, containing a human genetic code. Or, it may be viewed, as a being that possesses certain human characteristics in addition to the human genetic code, or a being that is a 'moral person'. Therefore, it is one that has rights, and probably duties as well. A number of
'Some religious ethics are too rigid for moral decision making. Discuss
(b) ‘Some religious ethics are too rigid for moral decision making.’ Discuss Divine command theory can be seen as too rigid for moral decision as morals depend on God’s wills. An act is morally right if it has been commanded by God and morally wrong if God has forbidden it. Right and wrong are therefore solely decided by God’s will or commands. Moral standards hence decisions became an objective matter because it is based on God. It only right if God the law-giver, the supreme moral governor commands it and wrong if it is not. It is rigid because it is not merely a matter of custom or personal feelings but relates to what God requires and commands. Norman Geisler put forward the five principle features of Christian Ethics – Based on God’s will “be holy because I am holy (lev.11:45), “ be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect”(Mtt 5:48); absolute as commands are from God, they are binding on everyone, everywhere and always; Based on God’s revelation , his will revealed in both nature, scriptures, and the bible; Prescriptive; and deontological, where no matter what the consequences are, things are right and wrong regardless. One must make the right decision by following God’s will always. This promoted unreflective mass conformism rather than responsible and intelligent individual decisions. However, the rigidness of the divine command theory can be
To what extent do we have an individual moral responsibility to the environment
To what extent do we have an individual moral responsibility to the environment Environmental ethics focuses on the responsibility humans have on the world and whether they have to value it or not. Many believe that we have a moral responsibility towards the environment because we have to preserve and protect it. However, other take an anthropocentric view, as they belie e that humanity is central and has greater importance over the environment. Early Christian views show that humans have no responsibility towards the environment as humans are given a dominion over it. This means that God has given humans authority over the earth, animals and plants. This is shown within the Bible as human have a special relationship with God and they are made to look like him. In Genesis 1:28, it is said ‘let them have dominion over the fish of the dear and the birds of the air and over the live-stock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ This shows that humans have dominion over all creatures on the earth and have no responsibility towards them. Therefore, this anthropocentric Christian view shows that we don’t have moral responsibility towards the environment. However, others interpretation of the creation story provide a different meaning of the word ‘dominion’. As some believe that when God created the world and stated ‘be fruitful and
What guidance might utilitarianism offer to questions relating to genetic engineering?
What guidance might utilitarianism offer to questions relating to genetic engineering? The main principle of a utilitarianism is ‘ the greatest good for the greatest number’ Genetic Engineering involves embryo research, selecting human genes, genetically engineering crops, alteration to human genes, stem cell research and much more. According to the utilitarian view, this should be assessed on the basis of its consequences. For a utilitarian, something is beneficial to the extent that it adds to enhancing the quality of human and animal life, and is harmful to the extent that is causes disease, or suffering in any form. Utilitarianism does not accept the principle that human life has absolute value and this should be upheld by whatever the consequences, but it attempts to look at each individual situation to promote the greatest happiness for those concerned. Utilitarian’s would not ask "Is it right to experiment on Human genetic material?" They would want to know whether the consequences of using genetic engineering would be more pleasure and less pain than forbidding it. However, utilitarianism only works if it is actually possible to assesses the results of genetic engineering and embryo research and decide whether they favour all concerned. Many scientists would argue that the consequence of genetic engineering will increase of pleasure and decrease of pain.
Medical Ethics And Organ Transplants
Medical Ethics Essay The field of medical ethics is one is of severe complexity, diversity and covering a wide range of topics in the medical world. Within medical ethics it is especially important to consider religious principles and the effect they have on the options for religious believers and effects on faith. One of the key issues for debate, considered to be the most controversial and varying is organ transplantation and organ donation. Religious principles and ethical values directly affect the outcome of an organ transplantation or donation, and for many faiths they should be upheld in all circumstances, even in a matter of life or death. Many medical developments in organ donation are often very controversial and use cutting edge research and development which many religious believers deem unacceptable and religious principles should be upheld. In the words of Albert Einstein ‘science without religion is dumb, religion without science is deaf’. Science and religion therefore must co-operate and coincide in the complex field of organ donation. The first successful transplantation was in 1945 however the idea of transporting tissue or organs from a deceased or living donor has been around since the 3rd century. There are many religious faiths that would reject organ transplantation. There are a huge number of people waiting for a donation organ, as of April
Situation Ethics and Moral Decision Making.
Explain the approach of situations ethics to moral decision making * Origins of the theory in New Testament teaching and development by Fletcher in the 1960s * The central role of love in the theory and the rejection of legalistic approaches to morality * The teleological nature of the theory * Development of key principles associated with the theory, such as the rejection of casuistry, the four working principles and the six fundamental principles * Examples of application of the theory to ethical issues Situation Ethics is an ethical theory which maintains that something is moral if it follows the most loving course of action. The theory was developed by Joseph Fletcher, a professor who was heavily influenced by New Testament teachings, thus making Situation Ethics a religious theory. The theory is follows a teleological approach and is therefore based on the consequences of our actions as opposed to the actions themselves. In contrast to other theories, Natural Law as a suitable example, Situation Ethics is a relativist theory. Basically decisions are made based on the particular circumstance and may vary. On the whole, the situationist decides themselves what they believe to be the most loving course of action. It is a non legalistic theory with no moral absolutes or fixed rules, but rather based upon one solid principle, love. The love in which Fletcher
The Possession of Virtue Leads to a Happy Life. Discuss
Academic Honor Code Amir Meraban 11B May 12, 2014 Nicomachean Ethics Essay The Possessions of Virtue Leads to a Happy Life Most authoritative sciences have been substantiated after a lot of research and accepted by authorities in their respective fields, work not only for the individual good but also for the collective group. Though procuring individual good is not a bad thing, the good brought about for a collective group, such as a city or a country is much more higher and nobler because it is for the human good, as opposed to the individual good. Therefore, gaining knowledge of the good is a crucial part of our lives. There is a vast diversity where goods are concerned. According to Aristotle, “Knowledge of the matters that concern political science will prove beneficial to those who follow reason both in shaping their desires and in acting.” (Nicomachean Ethics, 1095a- 3) Political science is one of the authoritative sciences that have guiding principles that would prove beneficial for those who want to live life with great self-restraint, because it helps to mold or shape their actions and desires. The quality of self- restraint is a virtue by itself and therefore, possessing this virtue leads to a happy life. The possession of the friendship of virtue leads to a happy life. Every individual makes rational choices or does actions to attain the outcome which is